Our view: Public schools are good investments

To determine the state of a community, one only has to look at the state of its public education system.

If residents value education, and they value their children's futures, they will invest in public schools. Even those who do not have children in the system should understand that the best route to a secure future for the community is to have the best public schools possible.

That is why what's happening in Union Parish is so heartbreaking.

Last year, even with the knowledge of the deplorable state of the system's assets and finances, taxpayers turned down a proposed property tax.

And a bad situation has continued to deteriorate.

Two school buses spontaneously caught fire within the past two weeks while they were sitting in the parking lot, not even running, according to Superintendent George Cannon. District school buildings are in disrepair - ceilings are hanging down and wiring is unable to accommodate technology needed to adequately serve students.

Cannon and the school board agreed last week to close two elementary schools and to ask voters once again for some help. What this does, for families in Spearsville and Bernice, is make those communities far less attractive for future investment. And it places those children on a long bus ride to Farmerville Elementary on buses that are, well, quite unreliable if they spontaneously combust in a parking lot.

The district's had a steady decline in revenue because of a consistent drop in student population. Cannon said the district has lost about 1,700 students since 1985, but he predicts the district will level off its student population at about 1,792 in 2017.

"We've got four months to win the minds and hearts of voters and to gain their trust that what we're really talking about is the future of our children," Cannon said.

If approved, the 13.5-mill property tax would generate $42.5 million for capital improvements while the one-cent sales tax would bring in about $2.4 million yearly for program changes.

Union Parish, filled with friendly people, beautiful rolling hills and the highly desirable Lake D'Arbonne area, has the potential to be the next booming growth area as people continue to seek an escape from the metropolitan area. But it won't draw that kind of growth and investment without good schools.

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Our view: Public schools are good investments

To determine the state of a community, one only has to look at the state of its public education system.